Flint Hill Again

[Anonymous]

I'd appreciate more feedback about Flint Hill for Upper School. I have read some posts that complain about a lack of academic selectivity and the range of colleges that the kids get into, but it looks like the brighter kids are getting into great colleges. From the website it looks like a fine, all-around high school that would provide a fairly "normal" high school experience in a more intimate setting than public high school. I'd appreciate hearing from anybody who has/had a child go through the upper school about the level of academic challenge for brighter kids (don't all of us posters have "above average" kids?!), the social atmosphere -- do kids come from fairly permissive or protective families? how do they socialize outside of school?, etc. -- and anything else that should inform our decision whether to apply. We are also particularly interested in hearing about the performing arts program. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It's got nowhere near the academic reputation of the big schools mentioned on this list. It's athletic program has really taken off the past 3-5 years, as they have relaxed admission standards to bring in good athletes.

It's not a bad school, but there are many better choices.

[Anonymous]

Not to sound totally snarky, but I think OP already knows the "reputation" of the school. Perhaps some first hand observations would be more helpful? This is a school in which I am also interested ...

[Anonymous]

I can give you second hand view from my cousin who sends his kids there. They were bright kids but not TJ eligible. Two got into very good colleges but not ivy. They have a good special education program that allowed them extra time on SATs which i had never heard was allowable. The sports program is very good if not top notch in some areas and the facilities are excellent. His family isn't very permissive or protective either. Generally comes across as middle class but highly paid professionals and I imagine most are like that. He or his wife never complained of stuckup entitled families there (like the school my kids are at but i digress).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can give you second hand view from my cousin who sends his kids there. They were bright kids but not TJ eligible. Two got into very good colleges but not ivy. They have a good special education program that allowed them extra time on SATs which i had never heard was allowable. The sports program is very good if not top notch in some areas and the facilities are excellent. His family isn't very permissive or protective either. Generally comes across as middle class but highly paid professionals and I imagine most are like that. He or his wife never complained of stuckup entitled families there (like the school my kids are at but i digress).

Just for the record, virtually every private (and public) school in the area has students who are given extra time for tests, both in school and the SATs. It's not a special program (although I have heard that Flint Hill is more willing than some schools to be flexible with accommodations).

[Anonymous]

OP, I can give you some first hand experience. My DC left FHS during highschool for a "Big 3" school for a couple of reasons. Overall, it is a great school community which accepts most kids quite well. FHS provides a great "learning center" for kids who are bit behind in study skills. The school itself has kids of caliber in academics and athletics. Now moving on to some of the academically more focused areas. I'm not trying to brag, but my DC was definitely a top 10 percentile kid at FHS. The academic push which he received was good but not enough to make him "sweat." You can go all honors or AP but sometimes "Big 3-5" schools provide a greater push to strive because of the competition from other kids. Athletics-wise, this year they seem to be doing very well. However, you must consider that they play in the MAC which is the weakest sport conference in this area. Toughest is IAC and then MAC. Kids who to FHS typically range from Middle Class to fairly upper class kids. The school is a very non-stuck up type of school. Even the lower earning families feel very welcome from my understanding. Overall, I have no complaints about FHS as a school. However, if you really want your DC to get pushed to a new level, then you might want to reconsider otherwise. I will give you the main reasons why my DC/family left FHS:
1. DC needed more of an academic push because he really wants to get into a solid Ivy for business and law.
2. DC wanted to go to a school which also was more athletically competitive because of his athletic part.
3. College acceptances were weak for the money.
Just a word of advice. I would check out the Potomac School because it is pretty much a FHS but with better campus and academic reputation. Just a thought. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 20:18. That was the kind of feedback I was looking for. Potomac sounds great for us, but DC was rejected for K and that has always left us with a sour taste, unfortunately!

[Anonymous]

This year is not K - give up on the sour taste .... you just have to get past the Potomac Admissions office, which presents a strange combination of dysfunction. After several contacts, I think that it is not reflective of the school itself.

[Anonymous]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I completely agree about the admissions folks at Potomac. A big turnoff.

[Anonymous]

20:18 here again. OP, I wouldn't put Potomac down just yet. Trust me, I was the biggest of fans of their admissions process. However, I know quite a few parents with children there and they are all very pleased with the school. My DC had applied to Potomac and three other top tier schools. In my opinion, Potomac probably is a better school all together but who am I to decide. You need to just visit all the schools and decide which really rings a bell to your family and child. Let me know if you have any other questions. I will be checking this thread every now and then. Good luck!